Short Answer
When someone twists Scripture—especially around your family—you should respond with truth, using the Bible itself to correct error. Speak kindly but clearly, and focus on guiding those who are listening so they are not misled.
The Overview
When false teaching comes from someone close—like a family member—it creates both emotional and spiritual tension. The responsibility is not to attack or argue harshly, but to gently correct error using Scripture. The most effective approach is to open the Bible and show what it actually says, allowing truth to speak for itself.
Not every misunderstanding carries the same weight. Some issues are secondary and may not need strong confrontation, while others—especially those affecting core truths—require clarity. Wisdom is needed to discern when to engage directly and when to simply guide listeners quietly back to truth.
There is also a responsibility toward those being influenced, such as children or grandchildren. Even if the person spreading error is not receptive to correction, you can still step in and help others understand what is true. This may involve explaining Scripture privately and helping them learn to test what they hear.
At the same time, those who teach carry a serious responsibility. Misrepresenting Scripture is not a small matter, and it should be addressed with both seriousness and care. The goal is not to win an argument, but to protect truth and guide others toward a right understanding of God’s Word.
Key Takeaways
- Use Scripture to Correct Error
Let the Bible itself be the authority. - Be Kind but Clear
Speak truth without harshness. - Discern What Matters Most
Not all issues require the same level of response. - Protect Those Listening
Guide children or others who may be influenced. - Teaching Carries Responsibility
Misusing Scripture is serious. - Focus on Truth, Not Arguments
The goal is understanding, not winning debates.
Read Full Raw Transcript
[00:00:00 – 00:01:27] Yes, I hope so. Um, my son-in-law has a YouTube platform and he twists the Bible and he twists it to my grandson. And on those occasions when I’ve been able to hear it directly, I have spoken out in the kindest possible way. I don’t know what my responsibility is to try and make sure my grandson does not believe the lies his father tells. Well, the great thing about the Bible Oh, go ahead. No, go ahead. For example, that uh Jonah resurrected that who did Jonah and the whale. Okay. Right. That’s crazy stuff like that.
[00:00:44 – 00:01:42] Mhm. Well, I understand why he came to that conclusion and I know some people do say that. Uh but I do think I agree with you. He did not. This is not a resurrection that takes place for Jonah. And I’m I’m fully in line with that. But the kinds of conclusions that some people come to with statements like that, and they do because Jesus talked about uh the sign of Jonah, which is that he was in this whale for three days. And some people say, “Well, how can it be a sign of Jonah if he’s not in
[00:01:13 – 00:02:09] fact dead?” Because Jesus is clearly in fact dead. So that’s why they make those conclusions. But I would say, I mean, that to me is a third level, third tier, what I call tertiary. It’s it’s not at the at the core of gospel truths. Uh I wouldn’t have a problem with someone saying that if long as it’s with a caveat. Uh you know this is just an interesting thought that may be the case and this is what I’m convinced of. Great. But the good thing that you have going for you with your kids or your
[00:01:41 – 00:02:34] grandkids is that you can say let’s look at the Bible together and see if the book of Jonah says this and you can read in chapter 2 of Jonah where he calls out from inside of that the belly of that fish and he’s clearly alive. So you can go to scripture and you should go always with an open Bible to the people hearing the false teaching that you love and care about and say let’s correct that. And I have to do that all the time from the pulpit because people hearing all kinds of things from very popular
[00:02:07 – 00:03:00] teachers and many of them impinge on the truth of Christ and who he is and how he saves and what the expectation is in the Christian life and I have to get up and say hey don’t believe that and let me show you why. So show them why you are forced to as all Christians are to be a good Berean as we get out of the book of Acts that we go home and we we test what teachers say by looking carefully at the scriptures ourselves. And when people we love and care about are hearing bad teaching well then you can open the
[00:02:34 – 00:03:17] Bible for them and say, “Hey, we’re you’re not going to believe that because here’s what the Bible says.” Now, when you have someone close to you, like your own child that’s teaching false teaching, as I said to Nicole, who asked the question just a minute ago, I want to make sure that you tell them, “Hey, we James 3:1, not many people should be teaching the Bible because you’re going to incur a stricter judgment.” And if you’re out there on YouTube telling
[00:02:56 – 00:03:40] people something about what the Bible says, and it’s not it’s not true, and it’s clearly that the Bereans can go out there, open their Bible, say, “This is not what the Bible teaches,” then just know God is not going to be happy with your service. You think you’re serving the Lord and storing up treasure in heaven, but you’re not. I mean, you’re you’re going to be disciplined for this. And that’s what the scripture promises in James chapter 3 or even 2 Timothy
[00:03:17 – 00:04:14] chapter 2, verse 15, which tells us we have a an obligation to rightly handle the word. And we have to do that. If not, we will not be approved of God. And that’s what the point of of 2 Timothy 2:15 is. We we need to be approved by God. We want to be approved by God. We want God to give a thumbs up to our ministry and bless it. He’s not going to bless a ministry of a teacher who continually twists the scripture. So, yes, a a kind but straightforward word, and I say kind, it’s never going to feel
[00:03:45 – 00:04:43] kind. A a a a gentle but firm word that you shouldn’t be teaching things that are not true to the one teaching it. And then to the one hearing it, you want to say, “Hey, here’s why we don’t believe that because the Bible doesn’t say it.” And that’s where we have to always go around and kind of mop up after other people saying the wrong things. Does that make sense, Laura? Yes, it does. Thank you so much for your encouragement. I don’t want to come across as cruel or angry. It’s just God’s word
[00:04:14 – 00:04:57] is God’s word and you read it and it is the way it is. You don’t twist it. Okay? And remember this, Laura, even though they say you’re being cruel or nasty or whatever, you know you’re not, right? You care about the truth and you’re just stating the facts. You’re not upset. You’re not angry. You’re just saying, “Hey, I’m not being cruel. I’m not being angry. I’m just telling you stop saying things that the Bible does not teach and and oh you’re being mean. Well, I’m not
[00:04:36 – 00:05:26] being mean. I’m doing I’m doing what we should do. I’m being a good bing berean to see whether or not the things you’re teaching are true. So, yeah, don’t let them shut you up simply because you are saying something kindly and directly and they’re going to charge you with being mean. Oh, well, you can you can think it’s mean, right? That’s the problem in the book of Proverbs. If you try to correct a scoffer, all you’re going to do is have him scoff at you. And that’s
[00:05:01 – 00:05:46] the problem with some people. They can’t take correction. Go with an open Bible. And once you’ll figure out at some point, maybe the guy is not even open to any input or correction. Then all you’re going to do is have to go around mopping up with the people that are hearing. And if your grandkids or any other people you love are hearing this, you need to step in and say, “Hey, uh, this isn’t right. Lord, hang in there.” Okay. Yeah, hang in there. We all deal with that at
[00:05:23 – 00:06:19] some level. when it’s your own child uh and it’s close to home that is really really hard and I think about the book of Proverbs that says when you have a wise son right the mother is rejoicing the father is made glad and it’s really sad when we do things like we’re not a good teacher of the word we not only are disappointing God we disappoint people that care about us like our parents so Laura we feel bad for that phone call but maybe uh the encouragement will help you to stand strong and be a good
[00:05:51 – 00:06:01] teacher to those that are hearing some False teaching out there.
